Activities of Marian HARKIN related to 2016/2101(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2016 priorities (A8-0309/2016 - Alfred Sant)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery and job creation, making a commitment to investment, implementing structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility; Request that major structural reforms advocated by CSRs should be accompanied by a social impact assessment regarding their medium-long term effects with the propose to better understand the impact on job creation and economic growth;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) demonstrate the differences that exist between Member States under the European Semester framework; argues that the Member States should continue to give priority to reforms that will strengthen their economic recovery, making a commitment to growth-friendly investment, implementing necessary structural reforms and taking an approach based on fiscal and budgetary responsibility;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to provide stronger guidance on the implementation of the CSRs. Notes that the dialogue with Member States and other European institutions and social partners must continue to be intensified to enhance the ownership of CSRs in order to improve the unsatisfactory rate of reform implementation;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls for a stronger effort from the Commission and Members States to reduce poverty, social exclusion and growing inequalities, for instance through Member States´ exchange of best practices on the implementation of national minimum income schemes; Reiterates that tackling economic inequalities is fundamental to achieve long lasting economic growth and a socially sustainable rhythm of implementation;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Recalls that the longer-term vision outlined in the Europe 2020 Strategy is a good first step, but these targets should be adapted to the reality and needs in different Member States, leaving sufficient political space for Member States to find their own contextually adapted path to reform in close consultation with stakeholders while ensuring that the 2020 Strategy remains central to their objectives;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that economic growth should guarantee a positive social impact; welcomes the introduction of the three new headline socialemployment indicators in the macroeconomic imbalances procedure; reiterates the call for these to be pa balanced on an equal footingequilibrium with existing economic indicators, thereby guaranteeing that internal imbalances are better assessed and making structural reforms more effective; calls, in this connection, for a social imbalances procedure to be introduced; The social imbalance procedure must prevent a race to the bottom in terms of taxation and social standards, building on an effective use of the social and employment indicators in macroeconomic surveillance;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that economic policies should adapt to social needs and should guarantee minimum social policies and basic services for its citizens; Highlights that a renewed process of upward economic and social convergence is needed, notably through investments in human capital and other social infrastructures, in order to tackle the economic and social disparities between Member States and within societies;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The introduction of the 3 employment indicators shows that the European Employment Strategy, including Employment Guidelines, plays an important role in the EU economic governance process, but more efforts need to be made, notably through the introduction of social indicators, like the gini coefficient, palma index and persistent-at-risk-of-poverty rate;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls on the Commission to deliver the results of the consultation and to move forward with new effective steps on the establishment of a European Pillar of Social Rights, which is fundamental to broader efforts to deliver a fairer Union;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a strong commitment to promoting the Juncker Plan (EFSI) in Member States with a low level of participationthat are especially affected by severe unemployment;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the European Commission to closely monitor and control the investments under the Juncker Plan; A report should audit and measure the economic and employment impact of the investments in real terms;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises the significant progress made by the Member States in implementing structural reforms, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary: to enhance productivity, foster job creation, raise competitiveness and improve the business environment, while nevertheless taking the view that further progress is necessary, especially from Member States with large current account surpluses, notably through the implementation of measures to channel excess savings towards the domestic economy and thereby boost domestic investment;
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlighted the importance of private investment, but believes that public expenditure should be also promoted in an efficient and effective way; Member States should focus on sources of expenditure that will raise productivity capacity in the future and that will have strong positive spill-overs on the economy as a whole - especially through education and training (academic, professional and vocational), R&D and infrastructures (transport, energy and communication);
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on Member States to reduce the tax wedge on labour, particularly for low earners, in a budgetary neutral way to foster job creation and to implement tax rules that foster incentives on entrepreneurship and employment creation;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Recalls once again that free movement of people is fundamental to enhance convergence and integration between European countries;
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets the fact that the Commission has disregarded Parliament’'s request to strengthen the application of Article 349 TFEU with a view to enhancing the outermost regions’ ' integration into the EU; notes that these regions have unemployment rates over 30%; Priority should be also given to economies and regions that still face high long-term and youth unemployment and that productivity growth remains slow affecting living standards and competitiveness;
Amendment 125 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for account to be taken of the challenges that have been emerging in the EU since 2015the beginning of the crisis, which have required serious adaptation efforts; calls on the Commission not to apply any sanctions to the Member States in 2016to apply the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) exactly the same way in every Member State, so as to prevent any sort of discrimination; Notes the flexibility already contained within the SGP;
Amendment 132 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that more EU transfers might be expected to generate greater additional growth, but in reality, it appears there may be decreasing returns from investment and investment- stimulating transfers; More funds do not necessarily mean more growth and better results; A point may be reached where returns begin to decline and additional funds do not lead to higher growth; Transfers to regions should therefore not exceed maximum desirable levels if inefficiency and misuse are to be avoided;
Amendment 133 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission to help and to exchange best practices with Member States to improve administrative capacity at national, regional and local level which is a key challenge for re- launching long-term investments and ensuring job creation and sustainable growth;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Stresses that Member States deficit levels may be increased due to the Member States need to co-finance projects financed by ESI funds; Having regard to budgetary restrictions, many deprived regions have less possibilities to benefit from ESIF. Asks the Commission to revise the requests of co-financing in areas with dramatic indebtment or deficit;